Chapter 7 -






Tell me the cool vibration
living your fantasy
Tell me who, tell me surely and the name
I'll be stunned, I'll be waiting...
Ghosts' horror show
In a Darken
Just say you love...

Down, Down, Wish it's just a revelation
Take me there, take me into a revolution
Down, Down, listen to the vibration
Take me home and I'll look into return









99th Street, Benten Tower Park, December 22, 22:25 PM




The chilly air was a welcome change of pace from Beta's stuffy, hot cabin in Kogane. He figured he must have put too much juice in his heater, as the cabins room temperature soared to over 103°. He disliked the heat, for the sole reason of become dizzy, disoriented and sick. He doesn't remember when he became like that, only that he becomes ill in severe heat.

The complete opposite in the cold. Beta, in his opinion, truly felt he was alive when he was cold. His eyes sharper, reflexes quicker, it was like a sick transition from Hell to Heaven, if there ever was such a thing. He loved the cold, and it never occurred to him to buy something warm, in case he got sick, but he never got sick... Did he? Beta shook his head.

The abundance of pink lights shone like a insanely polished mirror in a room full of search lights, and it struck everywhere, giving the place a weird, surreal look. The water circling around the Tower was frozen, and the lights reflection off it made it look like candy. People were all around, buying gifts, laughing, crying, yelling, living....

Beta shifted uncomfortably, and reached into his pocket. He was still wearing his Hate the Mainstream t-shirt from a week before, and his baggy, torn, and patched pants he got from a western company called the Salvation Army. For some reason, he found it extremely ironic, taking handouts from a place almost everyone loathed, but he didn't give a damn. He needed a fucking pair of pants, damnit.

He withdrew his wallet, a simple, black leather holder, and counted the yen miserably. 10000¥ was all, and that was enough to buy Giga and Data a present. Maybe a glow stick for Giga and a pocket mirror for Data, he mused.

He got up, and viewed the cloudy night sky. The clouds were a dull brown, reflecting the lights from the city, looking like an sea which no ship dared traverse. His eyes fell from the sky and to the chain of stores circling the tower. People from different mothers, different families and different lives were mixing, mingling, and going about their lives, yet each one of them has a personal life. One might have been molested, one might have killed, but you would never see it. It made Beta's mind boggle. He sighed, and walked up the steps, passing by some wealthy looking people who looked at him appraisingly and went back to talking.

Poor thing. Think he has a home?

Beta suppressed a grin, and walked around the circle and through the corridor leading to the Light Street corridor, where-



Beta turned around, and waved at Giga, who came charging down the pathway, and stood in front of him.

Trying to get a hold of you all day man, where were you?

Beta shrugged. Wanted to be by myself.

Loner bastard. Heh. Giga chuckled, and the two walked down the pathway into the commercial district.

What are you giving for Christmas?

Giga shrugged. Don't have the money. And, don't believe in Christmas any ways.

The one they call God?

Giga nodded. Yeah, him. Personally, I think it's a great big scam.

One that works, and no one notices.

Aye, greatest act of deception the world hasn't seen.

The two laughed darkly, little humour in the noise of mirth. It began to snow slightly, snow softly landing and melting on the concrete. When they reached the commercial district, it became busier as the Christmas shoppers hurried to buy before the district shuts down.

Seen Data lately?

Nah... not really... She's getting there.

Beta looked at Giga. Getting where?

Where all girls like her go to survive.



Do I have to spell it out to you? Giga said, plopping down on a bench. She's whoring herself out for money.

Beta shut his eyes, and covered his forehead.

Oh no... he moaned, and Giga had a similar expression.

Yeah, that's shit. Believe me, I know.

How'd you find out? Beta asked, sitting next to him. Giga shifted and reached into his black pants pocket, and extracted a big, sweaty roll of Yen.

Our Christmas present.



Giga said unhappily, unrolled it and neatly divided it in half, and split it between him and Beta.

20,000 yen each.

Beta just looked at the paper he held in his hand, and his face transformed into a snarl, and he pocketed the money.

Fucking hell. Where, and who did she...

Dunno... she said it was for... a... Giga trailed off, but Beta finished it darkly, staring down at the cold, hard ground.

Web site.

Giga nodded his confirmation, while Beta sighed. That web site is gonna get FUCKED over... he muttered. Giga raised an eyebrow.

Nice pun, dude.

Shut up.

A growl from Beta's stomach erupted, and Beta muttered something dark and cannibalistic about Jesus, and he got up.

I'm gonna get a beef bowl, wanna come?



The Beef Bowl, a place where they sell, surprisingly enough, beef bowls, which had chunks of teriyaki beef in a bowl of white rice, among other vegetables, was not too far away from where they both were. It was basically an outside restaurant, and rudies were known for snatching beef bowls from unwary patrons. Getting there was no hassle, and the two exchanged pieces of information the other didn't, one of them was Bytes death.

She died?

Yeah, during our favourite Noise Tank activity.

What happened? Two beef bowls. Beta said curtly to the attendant.

Someone stepped on her throat while she was passed out. Crushed it like a tin pipe. An order of Cokes too.

Beta sighed, yet again, and Giga looked concerned.

You upset?

Beta sat there for a while, before shaking his head.

You know... I thought she was great. But hearing about her death, I feel nothing, as if I didn't know her...

Giga looked sullen. No one does. Sometimes I wonder if we know each other. Besides, she treated you pretty rough, I'm sure that accounts for something.

Beta said, A human being died, and yet I could care less. Why?

Giga snorted a laugh. Welcome to the streets. he said in a mockingly accurate impersonation of the voice of Alfred. Beta blinked, and accepted his food from the stewardess. His stomach rumbled, and Beta realised that this was his first hot meal in over a month.

What's the situation of the Pact? Giga asked.



Yeah, the Pact.

When Giga received a blank look, he chuckled.

Right, I forgot you stormed out after Byte embarrassed the FUCK outta ya. Giga shifted, and took a nice, healthy bite out of a piece of meat.

Alpha, that Poison Jam leader guy, and the Head Bitch of Shibuya, agreed to form a pact to take out the GG's.

Beta barked a laugh. Like that will work. It will come undone before any things done.

Alpha doesn't think so.

You think I give a shit about what Alpha thinks? Jesus, what a fucking faggot that guy is.

They finished their bowls in a matter of minutes after that statement, and Giga tried his best not to laugh and choke on his food, and Beta finally gave up and looked at Giga.

WHAT'S SO FUNNY?!

Giga started to laugh insanely, and then started to choke. Beta looked around to see if anyone was going to, under the whim of Christmas, come and help. No such luck. Beta leaned forward, and hit Giga square in the chest, as hard as he could. Giga retched, and out came a huge piece of chewed meat and bits of rice flew out and smacked Beta square in the face. The meat slid down his face, before falling onto the floor. Giga managed to control his hacking cough, and with air of one who just had snorted the finest cocaine the world has ever offered, said

Yer the first guy to call Alpha a faggot.

Beta blinked.

THAT'S FUNNY?

Giga nodded, and spat out some more food.

You are fucking funny.

Beta blinked.

Uhh... thanks.

That's my Christmas present. Giga wheezed, and slumped in his chair. Beta looked at Giga's now tired face, and realised, that despite his cheery face, Giga had scars all over, thin, fine ones that sort of meander around his face. When Giga smiled, it disappeared.

Beta nodded.

Thanks Giga.

Giga shrugged, and looked at his watch. Fuck, gotta go... See ya he said, got up, and charged into the crowd.

Beta got up, looked down at the spewed meat, looked around, picked it up and ate it, not wanting perfectly good meat go to waste. Hands in his pockets, he trudged down the sidewalk, and felt the sudden wealth in his pocket, and cringed.

Whore money. He felt dirty wearing the same pants the money was kept in.

he sighed, and a feeling of grief for his friend, threatened him. It was broken when Beta saw a familiar, long-haired red head staring at window.



Beta stood still, watching Suki look through the window, a look of absolute wanting on her face. Beta walked around her, to see what she was looking at. A pretty blue evening gown was on display, for 10000¥. She was so entranced in it she didn't even notice him. She sighed, and brought her bag up to her chest, turned and left.

She doesn't have a lot of money...

 FUCK. Not you again.

Beta waited for the rebuttal from his conscience, but received none. He noted the elegant cloth, made from a soft material which eluded him at the moment, and it appears to be a pull on. He stared at it for a long time, how long, he didn't know.

You are gonna do it anyway.

 Beta blinked and nodded.

You bastard. Why do you hate me?

Why do you hate yourself?

 Beta sighed, and walked up to the window, looked at the price tag, looking for anything that might come and bite him in the ass. He went around and entered the shop. A pretty young girl greeted him instantly.

Welcome to Fashion Otaku! she said sweetly. May I help you?

Yeah, I want to buy that in the window. Beta said dully, words being torn out of his chest.

OK, would you like the lingerie that comes with it? the girl said cheerfully. Beta stared.



The girl disappeared and came back with a see-through bra, and a similar transparent pair of underwear. Beta blinked, and decided to fuck it all.



OK! Come along... the girl said, handing Beta the lingerie, and leading Beta to the checkout stand. Holding the lingerie, Beta had a sinking feeling this was as close as he was gonna get to getting some ass. The girl already had the gown, and was neatly packaging it into the box. Beta handed her the under wear, which she neatly folded and put into a box. She then got out a stick-on ribbon, and put it neatly in the centre.

20,000 yen.



20,000 yen.

"But.. but the sign said 10,000!

the girl moved like lightning to the window, and came back red in the face.

So sorry sir, it is 20,000 yen, there was an error on our part.

20,000 yen.

Yes sir.

But, that's bull shit!

So sorry sir.

It said 10,000 fucking YEN. TEN THOUSAND. IT'S WHAT, ELEVEN OH CLOCK NOW?! Oh my fucking GOD. Beta stirred into a froth of anger. EVERY TIME I TRY TO DO SOMETHING NICE, EVERYTHING GOES TO FUCKING HELL!

Blue eyes.

 the girl cowered.

WHAT IS THIS, SOME SORT OF SCAM YOU GODDAMN BUSINESS PEOPLE DO TO FUCK OVER PEOPLE THAT TRIES SO FUCKING HARD IN THEIR FUCKING LIFE TO FUCKING SHOW HOW MUCH APPRECIATION THEY HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO GIVES A FUCK THAT THEY EXIST?!

Take it, I just don't care anymore.

Really sorry sir...



Beta tore into his pocket, extracted the yen from his pocket and slammed it down on the counter. His eyes were tearing up, and for the life of him couldn't figure out why. The checkout girl was silent as she counted the money, and bent down.

Another number.

Here you go sir. Merry Christmas. she said glumly.

Beta had half a mind to tell her where she could stick that Christmas cheer, but, his face broke into a weary, weathered face.

Merry Christmas.

He turned around and walked out the shop. The girl looked sadly after him.

What was that about? another girl asked.

I don't know. I wish my boyfriend would fight like that... the other said sadly.

As Beta was walking towards the Comic Otaku, he struggled with his mixed fury and grief.

Why Data? WHY?

Because she had no choice.

YOU! YOU SON OF A BITCH! I HATE YOU!

You hate everyone.

FUCK YOU.

You hate yourself.

FUCK YOU. FUCK YOU. FUCK YOU.

Beta face contorted, and he looked up at his final destination for the night, the grinning manga face of Monkey. D. Luffy, mascot of Comic Otaku.

Fuck you.

He walked into the Comic Otaku, and spotted Suki organizing comics, and wiping her eyes every now and then.

She was crying.

Hey Suki.

Suki looked up. What are you doing here?

Ain't got nothing to do.

Oh. Can I ask you a question?

Beta set the present on top of the shelf and shrugged.



Do you hate me?



Do you hate me?

... No.

Suki's face broke, and she started to cry softly.

What's wrong? Bad day?

Bad life.



Suki cried, and Beta looked around. It was snowing heavily, and Beta knew if it kept up they would be snowed in.

Suki, stop your crying. I, uh, got you a present.

Suki stopped crying.



Beta grabbed the box, and went over to her.

he knelt beside her. She took the box, and opened it. Beta noticed with grim humor that the girl put the lingerie on top. Suki saw, and froze.

Um, ignore that. Beta said, but Suki cut him off.

YOU TOO?! EVERYONE WANTS TO SLEEP WITH ME, BUT NONE WANTS TO STAY WITH ME! she screamed, leapt to her feet, and dashed into the backroom. Beta sighed, again, and got up. He looked at Suki's organization of the comic books, sighed, and started to put them in their correct order, some of them mashed, and pages torn.





Are you alone, too?

Beta stood up and looked at Suki, and froze. She was in the nightgown, and with the lingerie on. He blinked.



Suki crossed over to him, and they were face to face.

Will you leave me?

Beta stared at Suki, and for the first time in his life, he felt clean, and his mind wasn't in turmoil.



Suki leaned forward, and kissed Beta, who struggled a bit, then relaxed. They broke off, and they stared at each other for a while, before Beta broke the silence.

I know I can do better than that.